20-02-2025
Governor's math literacy bill advanced by House lawmakers
DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said in her Condition of the State speech at the beginning of the 91st General Assembly she would have a bill addressing math literacy rates.
The bill is similar to the reading literacy policy passed in 2024 by Iowa lawmakers. the bill would aim to improve student math proficiency and civics education. The policy requires early screening and targeted intervention for students struggling in math.
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It would also provide family-centered resources to support student development of mathematics at home and a comprehensive state mathematics plan that is designed to increase the level of proficiency. Resources will also be given to teachers in school districts with student populations needing extra emphasis in math, working with school district leaders.
Twenty-three percent of fourth graders in the state are testing below grade level at math, with fourth grade test scores ranking 30th in the nation. That is down from seventh only one year ago, according to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress.
'We hope to see many of the successes we have seen in early literacy replicated for students across Iowa through this Math Counts Act before you,' said McKenzie Snow, the Director of the Iowa Department of Education.
'You know, it's a really good plan. The caveat I would say to that, as I do on a lot of other bills similar to this, we have to take a look at the things we're asking our staff and teachers and our schools to do,' said Dave Daughton, a lobbyist for School Administrators of Iowa and Rural School Advocates of Iowa. 'They aren't bad things. There's just only so many hours in the day and so many resources to do that.'
The bill passed through the subcommittee, striking the portion requiring high school students pass a civics test in order to graduate. The Iowa Senate subcommittee did the same to the governor's bill on Tuesday of this week, as it was the same language passed three weeks ago by Iowa House Republicans.
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